Thread: Gilbert

Ready to start work on my steering box.
Top looks a little different to the TimNZ one, on his post.

whitehillbilly

Is it a bush instead of a bearing? Could be an aftermarket box if it does?

Cheers,

Hi Tim.
had wondered what the small bearings were doing in my steering box, until a member pointed out the must have run down the shaft, from the collapsing top bearing.
Not bushed, but missing bearing.
Funny, it steered so well !!!!!!!
Now to get it out. Thinking tube up shaft Tube and some heat.
Keep you posted.
Genuine S3 one from here. Great to deal with.
John Richards Surplus Ex-Military and General Surplus

whitehillbilly

Steering box work today.
Bit of pitting on shaft. Looks worse in photo. Damage from top bearing small balls falling through shaft to box. Any thoughts on use.
Someone had been in before. Upper cone had a bearing missing, that or crunched up from top ball bearings.
Have new balls, though I got the adjustable cones, O ring and some gaskets, but cant find them. Will look through dockets.

whitehillbilly.

4 shims plus one plastic one. Guess a cover on the steel one that wasn't removed ????
2 paper gaskets, one top and bottom of shims. book says gasket between each shim also ????
One paper gasket, top of steering box, under column.
Do most leave the box alloy, or paint it black. quite like the alloy look. Maybe clear coat.
Crack in box case. Cover locating pin. May have been cracked from new, from tapping in pin. Did notice alloy fillings in one hole never cleaned out, when tapped.
V out and add clear araldite. Other suggestions please. Pin relocated with some 515 gasket sealer.
Thanks

whitehillbilly

Factory mark, to line up pitman arm ????

whitehillbilly

I put a small smear of silastic on my shims when i assembled the box to stop any oil leaks past the shims. Not sure on the pitting on the shaft, looks bad. If u cant get another one then use it. But try and get one.

Cheers Rod

Cheers Rod.
See from manual, should be a dust cover above top column bearing. Also on mine, the spring that hold the indicator cancel up, with the two lugs into the steering wheel, Bears straight onto the bearing.
Am I also missing some kind of thrust bearing, on top of the dust seal ????
Also the upper column bracket, is rubber mounted on the column. Is this normal ????
A slot on the upper column, which has a sprung clip cover, seems to align with a slot on the steering shaft. Some kind of steering lock, fitted to some models ????
Thanks.

whitehillbilly